Chapter 1: Owned by the Devil
I stare out the car window, hands folded tightly in my lap.
The city blurs past, a river of lights I can't reach.
Keifer sits beside me. Silent. Calm. Cold.
His eyes, sharp and unreadable, never glance my way.
I remind myself: this is for my family.
They think this marriage will keep me alive.
Safe. Protected. A promise.
Safe feels like a lie.
The streets grow wider. The lights colder.
The gates of his house loom ahead.
Tall. Black. Menacing.
I swallow hard.
My fingers dig into my dress.
He steps out first, shadow tall and perfect.
I follow, heels clicking on the polished driveway.
Cold air bites my skin. The mansion… it's bigger than I imagined.
"Inside." His voice. Commanding. Final.
I obey.
The marble floors gleam under the dim chandelier light.
Shadows stretch across the room. Alive. Watching.
I can feel him behind me.
Silent. Intimidating. Predator.
"This is your home now. You'll get used to it."
I nod.
Force a smile that tastes bitter.
Inside, I tremble.
Afraid. Alone.
He leads me through wide halls, rooms I'll never dream of owning.
Everything screams control. Every corner whispers danger.
I catch a glimpse of his eyes once, dark and calculating.
And my chest tightens.
Because I know… he's not just watching me.
He's assessing me.
Measuring me. Judging me.
Finally, we stop at a room at the end of the hall.
"This will be yours," he says.
Door swings open. Dark wood, minimal furniture, cold elegance.
My heart sinks.
It's beautiful. Too beautiful for me.
I clutch my bag closer
.
This is my prison.
"Unpack."
One word. No tone, no warmth.
I do. Silent. Hands shaking.
Every corner of this room reminds me:
I am trapped.
He doesn't leave. Stands at the door, arms crossed.
Watching. Silent. Dangerous.
I want to speak.
To ask questions. To beg for something… kindness, mercy… attention.
But my voice is gone
.
Minutes stretch into hours.
I sit on the edge of the bed.
Quiet. Motionless. Waiting.
Finally, he speaks.
"You'll learn the rules soon."
Cold. Sharp. Precise.
I nod again.
Inside, a fire grows. A tiny spark of defiance.
I won't break completely.
Outside, I hear the wind whistle through the mansion.
And I realize… I'm not sure who is more dangerous.
The world that trapped me here…
Or the man who stands beside it.
Rules of the House ( Jay's pov )
I wake to the faint sound of footsteps outside my door.
My heart jumps.
Did he hear me moving in my sleep?
I clutch the blanket closer.
A knock.
"Come in." His voice. Smooth. Controlled. Dangerous.
The door opens.
Keifer stands there. Dark suit. Hands in pockets. Eyes like knives.
No smile. No softness.
Just… him.
"Time to learn the rules."
His tone leaves no room for argument.
I nod, silent.
Words feel useless anyway.
Every breath I take feels loud in this cold, empty room.
He steps closer, measuring me with those dangerous eyes.
"You don't leave this house without permission. You don't speak to anyone I haven't approved. You… do exactly as I say."
My chest tightens.
I nod again.
Yes, sir.
But inside, a tiny spark resists.
"Food is delivered. You don't go to the kitchen. You don't wander. You don't—"
I swallow hard.
It's like I'm a bird in a cage.
And he's the barbed wire.
I flinch.
"Understood." My voice is barely a whisper.
He studies me for a long moment.
Then, finally:
"You will dress properly at all times. You will appear as my wife, but you are mine only in name. Do not mistake protection for… anything else."
I nod again.
Bitter taste in my mouth.
Mine… only in name.
Not in heart. Not in life.
He straightens.
"Questions?"
I hesitate.
I want to ask: Why me?
Do you even care?
But words die in my throat.
"No."
My voice is steady, but my hands tremble.
He turns, moving toward the hall.
"Good. I'll show you the rest of the house. Learn it quickly. Comfort is dangerous in my world."
I follow.
Every step echoes in the empty halls.
Marble, shadows, cold perfection.
Rooms I'll never need, furniture I'll never touch
Finally, he stops before a study.
"This is where I conduct business. You do not enter unless I call you. Understand?"
"Yes." My voice shakes slightly.
He smirks—almost imperceptibly—then disappears into the shadows of the hall.
I sit in the middle of the living room.
Alone. Silent.
Surrounded by beauty that feels like a cage.
And I realize… this is only the beginning.